Entrepreneurs are good at hustling. We work hard and we work fast. We excel at quick thinking, problem-solving, and creativity. Some of us are big-picture thinkers, and others are incredibly good at understanding how things work, down to the tiniest detail.
Even though all of these things make us great at entrepreneurship, these same things can create a few problems, too. Specifically, they cause us to blur the boundaries between work and the rest of our lives.
It’s hard to set boundaries when you’re an entrepreneur. For most of us, this is a way of life. Our entrepreneurship has grown out of our passions, and it’s not like you can just flip a switch and turn off your creativity.
Still, you have to set boundaries if you want to maintain your work-life balance as an entrepreneur. If you don’t, you’re going to burn out, make mistakes, and lose out on the important things in life.
Why do boundaries matter?
Boundaries are limits and rules that we create for ourselves. You can’t control other people by setting boundaries, but you can certainly set limits to your own actions and reactions.
For example, you may not be able to keep a work colleague from emailing you at strange hours of the day and night. You can ask them to stop, but you really can’t control their actions. What you can do is control your actions. You can decide that every night after work, there is a time when you disconnect from your email and leave your work at work.
Boundaries matter because they help us protect our mental health, focus on what is really important in our lives, and avoid burnout. When we set boundaries, we protect ourselves from feeling like the only thing we do is work! Entrepreneurs often have unusual work schedules, which can lead them to work at all hours of the day and night. Boundaries help us limit that behavior so that we can take time to rest, play, take care of our relationships, enrich our lives, and have fun.
Benefits of setting boundaries at work
Setting boundaries at work can improve your life in several ways. Namely, boundaries can:
- reduce your overall stress.
- promote a healthy work-life balance
- help you maintain a sense of professionalism
- help you avoid costly mistakes that come from burnout
- contribute to a healthier body and a happier life
It can be difficult to set boundaries if you don’t feel confident in yourself and your value. Without self-confidence, you might not believe that you have a right to set boundaries. But you absolutely do!
Some people mistakenly believe that all entrepreneurs are super confident people, but that’s not always the case. Entrepreneurs are just like anyone else; we have our strengths and weaknesses. We don’t always know our own value, and we can be affected by self-confidence issues that affect anyone else.
Even those of us who have launched multiple successful businesses may struggle with Imposter Syndrome.
But trust me: setting boundaries is important. You deserve to have boundaries! If you don’t set limits as an entrepreneur, you will eventually lose control of your work-life balance, and both your work and your life will suffer because of that.
25 ideas for entrepreneurs who want to set boundaries
Do you need some help coming up with boundaries? Check out my list of 30 potential boundaries for entrepreneurs and choose the ones that sound like they would help you.
Incorporating 25 new boundaries into your life at the same time is never going to work. Instead, choose 3-5 and start there. Over time, you can add more.
- Set fixed work hours and stick to them–you shouldn’t work 24 hours a day!
- Avoid checking work emails outside of those work hours.
- Take regular lunch breaks away from the desk. Eat good food at lunch!
- Decline meetings scheduled during personal time; people can always meet with you later.
- Communicate clear response time expectations for emails and messages. You don’t owe anyone an immediate response.
- Say “no” to additional tasks when your workload is already full.
- Establish a dedicated workspace at home, and avoid working from your bedroom or the spaces you share with your family.
- Use separate devices for work and personal use. It costs a little bit more, but you can turn off work when you need to!
- Set an out-of-office message when you go on vacation. Take real vacations!
- Avoid sharing personal contact information with clients. They can contact you through your work platforms.
- Limit after-hours work calls or texts.
- Establish a protocol for urgent vs. non-urgent requests, so you know when you need to respond and when you can wait.
- Use vacation days and avoid working while on vacation.
- Schedule regular “unplugged” time for personal activities. Do you ever get to disconnect?
- Implement a “no work talk” rule during family dinners or other shared moments.
- Delegate tasks to team members or outsource when it’s possible so that you aren’t overwhelmed with tasks that someone else can do.
- Set aside specific times for networking and client meetings. Don’t let such activities overwhelm your schedule.
- Establish a morning routine that doesn’t start with work. Avoid checking your email and work notifications until you are at your desk.
- Create an evening wind-down routine to transition from work mode into family or personal time.
- Set limits on the number of business trips per month or quarter. Hold yourself accountable to this!
- Schedule regular check-ins with family/friends to maintain relationships.
- Set a cap on the number of hours worked per week. You’re allowed to set limits like this.
- Create a separate business phone number and set specific hours for answering.
- Limit the number of business events or conferences attended annually.
- Schedule regular time for personal development and learning unrelated to work.
Setting boundaries: The key to sustainable success
As entrepreneurs, our passion and drive can be our greatest assets, yet they can also be pitfalls. When we implement strong boundaries around our professional lives, we can protect our mental health and achieve better long-term success at work.
My recommendation is to start small. Set a few boundaries, either from the list above or your own ideas, and gradually incorporate more as you become more comfortable and confident. The key to successfully setting boundaries is consistency and compassion for yourself.
It’s okay if you don’t get it right immediately. What matters is that you are taking steps toward a healthier work-life balance.
If you’re ready to take your entrepreneurial journey to the next level while maintaining a healthy work-life balance, I invite you to join my Executive Growth Network. This exclusive Voxer coaching group connects you directly with me and a community of driven founders who are serious about scaling their businesses sustainably.
Don’t let the boundaries between work and life blur together. Take control of your entrepreneurial journey and join a community that values both success and well-being. Sign up today to join the Executive Growth Network and take the next step towards a more balanced, successful future.
